Decking Fastening and Water Draining System

ABSTRACT

A system for a waterproof deck may include connecting members, gaskets, and deck boards. The deck boards may be secured to a decking frame via the connecting members. The gaskets may be attached to the connecting members between the boards to create a waterproof seal. The system may also include draining devices to guide water to a desired location. A method for assembling the waterproof decking system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/293,053, filed on Feb. 9, 2016, entitled “Decking Fastening and Water Draining System,” which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Examples disclosed herein generally relate to decking systems, specifically a decking system including fastening and water drainage features.

BACKGROUND

Decks are a fairly common feature to homes and other buildings and have been around for many years. Typically a framework is first built using structural supports and joists that run across the area intended to support the decking. Flat decking boards may then be secured to the joists adjacent to each other and supported by the joists. This creates a flat outdoor platform that serves as a deck.

Most decks, however, have a gap between each deck board that allows water to seep through the deck to the area below. If the deck is near to the ground this could create a dark, damp environment. If the deck is on a higher story, then water leaking through could render the space below virtually unusable.

Also, decking can be very difficult and tedious to remove. Further, without a waterproof sealing between the boards, and because the board is nailed directly into the joists, any removed decking would not be reusable.

A decking system that addresses existing decking problems is needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is directed toward a decking system that includes a decking board, connecting members for securing the decking board to a decking frame, a waterproof gasket on each fastening member, and a draining mechanism for draining the water from the deck surface.

The connecting members for securing the decking board may include a flat bottom component. The flat bottom component may allow the connecting members to sit flush against the decking frame. The flat bottom component may include small holes that allow screws, nails, or other such securing devices to secure the connecting members to the joists. The connecting members may also include an extension that extends horizontally from either end of the fastening member and is configured in such a way to fit snugly into the open slits of the deck boards. The connecting members may be secured to the decking frame and placed on opposite ends of the elongated sides of the deck board with open slits. With the fastening member extensions inserted into the slits, they securely fasten the deck board to the decking frame. The connecting members may also include a gasket on the top of the fastening member. When a fastening member is secured to two deck boards, the gasket may create a waterproof seal between the two deck boards.

The connecting members, deck board, and waterproof gaskets may create a seal across the entire deck such that water cannot pass in between the deck boards. In order to prevent water buildup, a draining mechanism may allow for water to drain off the surface of the deck. In an aspect, the draining mechanism may include cylindrical separators about the shape and size of a hockey puck. The decking frame may be disposed adjacent a building structure, and the cylindrical separators may separate the decking frame from the building structure so as to allow water to drain. The system may also include a gutter beneath the cylindrical separators to guide the water to a desired location. The system may also comprise gutters around the other edges of the deck to collect and guide water to a desired location. The deck may also be constructed slightly tilted in order to drain water in a certain direction from the deck.

This Summary of the Invention is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary of the Invention is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to limitations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more detailed understanding may be had from the following description, given by way of example in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross section of an exemplary aspect of a decking fastening and water draining system;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary method for installing a decking fastening and water draining system;

FIG. 3 illustrates another cross section of an exemplary aspect of a decking fastening and water draining system; and

FIG. 4 illustrates another cross section of an exemplary aspect of a decking fastening and water draining system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES

As described herein, FIG. 1 illustrates a cross section of an exemplary aspect of the decking system 100. Decking system 100 may include decking boards 102, connecting members 104 positioned longitudinally between the decking boards 102, end connecting members, gaskets 110 adjacent to the connecting members 104, and draining spacers 126 positioned between a ledger board 105 and a house.

An end fastening member 106 may be secured to the ledger board 105. End fastening member 106 may generally be L-shaped with one side being a generally flat thin member. The other side is shorter and configured to fit within a slot 112 of the first decking board. The edge of the shorter end may be a securing component 108 similar to a burr such that the edge is wider than the remainder of the shorter end. The end fastening member 106 may be any length up to and including the length of the ledger board 105 for the purpose of securing the first decking board 102 to the ledger board 105. In an aspect, the end fastening member 106 may measure about 2 inches tall, 8 feet long, and a few millimeters thick. The edge of the short securing component 108 of end fastening member 106 may expand so as to fit snug into a slot 112 in decking board 102, such as a round shape as shown in FIG. 1. End fastening member 106 may be made of any durable material, such as a metal or hard plastic.

Decking boards 102 may be any board used to serve as a decking surface. Decking boards 102 may be made of wood, plastic, composites or other durable material. Decking boards 102 may be laid perpendicular or on an angle relative to joists 114 in decking system 100 and be secured with end connecting members 106 and connecting members 104. Connecting members 104 may be generally cross-shaped and having lengths up to and including the length of the decking boards 102. The horizontal cross member of the fastening member 104 may have a burr-like extension on each end. The decking boards 102 may include slot openings 112 that may run the length of each sides of the decking boards 102, The slot openings 112 may be configured to receive the connecting members 104 which may be further secured by the burr-like extensions. On each end of the deck, a decking board 102 may be secured on one end by an end fastening member 106 and a fastening member 104 on the other side. Further decking boards 102 may be secured to the decking frame 116 and joists 114 and disposed adjacent to the other decking boards 102 via connecting members 104.

The connecting members 104 may be a long, thin member for securing boards to decking frame 116 and creating a waterproof seal between decking boards 102 connecting members. The fastening member 104 may comprise components, 118, 120, 122, and 124. In other examples, fastening member 104 may be formed in other shapes, such as L-shaped, triangle, T-shaped, etc. All four components 118, 120, 122, and 124 may run the entire length of the fastening member 104. The end of component 124 may have means to secure the fastening member 104 to the decking frame 116, such as holes into which screw, nails, or other securing devices may be inserted through and into decking board 102. Component 118 and component 120 may insert into the slot openings 112 of the decking boards 102 to secure the decking boards 102 to the decking frame 116. The ends of components 118 and 120 may expand so that the component 118 and component 120 may fit securely in slot opening 112. The expanded portion may take any shape that can secure the fastening member 104 to the decking board 102, such as a triangle, circular, etc. The component 122 opposite the component 124 may extend vertically, usually not so far as to extend beyond the height of decking boards 102, but extension beyond the height of decking board 102 is contemplated. The component 122 may also expand at the end, such as with a round shape. The expanded end of the shorter component 122 may allow so that the gasket 110 may securely fasten to the fastening member 104 and fit snugly between two decking boards 102 and thereby create a waterproof seal.

The gasket 110 may be any flexible material that can retain its general shape while remaining flexible and being impermeable to water. For example, the gasket 110 may be made of a rubber material, polyurethane, a polymer or the like. The gasket 110 may attach to the shorter component 122 of the fastening member 104. When two decking boards 102 are secured on either side of the fastening member 104, the gasket 110 may be wide enough to be disposed firmly between the two decking boards 102 so as to create a waterproof seal between the decking boards 102. The gasket 110 may be long enough to run the entire length of the decking system 100 so that there is no break in the waterproof seal.

The end connecting members 106 and connecting members 104 allow the decking boards 102 to be secured to the decking frame 116 without nails, screws, or other similar connecting members being inserted through the decking boards 102, thus preserving their structural integrity and preventing water from flowing through holes which otherwise created in the decking boards. The end connecting members 106 and connecting members 104 may be secured to the decking frame 116 using screws, nails, or other similar connecting members as shown in FIG. 3. The end connecting members 106 and connecting members 104 may be of the shape and form shown in FIG. 1, but the end connecting members 106 and connecting members 104 may take on other shapes and forms that allow the end connecting members 106 and connecting members 104 to secure the decking boards 102 to the decking frame 116 and provide means for the attachment of gasket 110 to create a waterproof seal in between the decking boards 102.

The end connecting members 106 and connecting members 104 may be of any necessary length for creating a deck, but shipping such connecting members 104 may increase dramatically if they extend further than standard shipping lengths, such as 8 feet. The gasket 110, however, may be flexible so that it can coil into a circular shape. The size limitations for shipping are thus much less limiting because a much longer gasket 110 can fit into a much cheaper shipping container. Therefore, the end connecting members 106 and connecting members 104 can be limited to 8 feet or less, and multiple end connecting members 106 and connecting members 104 can be used to span the length of the decking frame without compromising the waterproofing of the deck surface because longer gaskets 110 can connect to multiple end connecting members 106 and connecting members 104 and thus span the entire deck length.

Draining spacers 126 may be used to direct water to drain between decking system 100 and the primary structure to which decking system 100 is attached. Draining spacers 126 may be disposed between the decking frame and the primary structure so as to allow water to pass through that space. A gutter 128 may be located beneath the draining spacers 126 in order to collect the water and direct it to a desired location. Other gutters 128 may also be disposed beneath the edges of the decking frame 116 to collect water and direct it to a desired location. Decking system 100 may be installed at a slight angle so as to allow water that otherwise would accumulate on top of decking system 100 to flow to a desired edge of decking system 100 for drainage. For example, decking system 100 may be installed so that it slants slightly downward toward the primary structure so that the water may drain through the space created by draining spacers 126.

In another aspect, decking boards 102 may be installed level, but gaskets 110 may allow for drainage. On one end of decking system 100 the connecting members 104 may be of a height such that gaskets 110 are flush with the top surface of decking boards 102. On the opposite end of decking system 100 connecting members 104 may be of a height such that gaskets 110 are slightly lower relative to the top surface of decking boards 102. Connecting members 104 and gaskets 110 positioned between the two ends of decking board 102 may gradually decrease in height from the higher end to the lower end. This may allow water to move to the lower end of the decking board 102. A gutter 128 may be located beneath the end of the lower end to capture the draining water and guide it to a desired location. Decking boards 102 may even be curved on its long edges so as to allow the water to more easily fall into the gaps therebetween.

In an aspect, a decking frame 116 may be constructed to create the desired framework of a deck. End connecting members 106 may be disposed at and attached to one end of the decking frame 116. A first decking board 102 may be secured on top of the decking frame 116 in such a way that the short securing component 108 of the end connecting member 106 is disposed snugly in slot opening 112 of the decking board 102. A connecting member 104 may be secured to the decking frame 116 on the opposite edge of the decking board 102. One of shorter components 118 or 120 may fit snugly into the slot opening 112 on that opposite end of decking board 102. The connecting member 104 may be secured to the decking frame 116, thus securing the decking board 102 to the decking frame. A second decking board 102 may be disposed adjacent the first decking board 102 and be secured to the decking frame 116 in a similar fashion except two connecting members 104 secure the second decking board 102 instead of one connecting member 104 and one end connecting fastening member 106. A gasket 110 is disposed between the two decking boards 102 and secured on fastening member 104. The gasket 110 creates a seal in between the two decking boards 102 such that water cannot pass between the decking boards 102. Further decking boards 102 are secured to the decking frame 116 in a similar fashion for the length of the decking frame 116 to create a waterproof deck surface.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary method 200 for installing decking system 100. At 202, a decking frame 116 is created. At 204, draining spacers 126 are inserted between the decking frame 116 and a building structure. At 206, a first decking board 102 is disposed against the top surface of the decking frame 116. At 208, a first end of the decking board 102 is secured to the end of the decking frame 116 via an end fastening member 106. Optionally, at 209, if the end connecting member 106 does not span the length of the first decking board 102, then more end connecting members 106 are attached to the first decking board 102. At 210, a connecting member 104 is inserted into a second slot opening 112 of first decking board 102 and secured to the decking frame 116. Optionally, at 211, if the fastening member 104 does not span the length of the first decking board 102, then more connecting members 104 are attached to the first decking board 102 and secured to the decking frame 116. At 212, a gasket 110 is attached to end of the fastening member 104 facing upward. At 214, further decking board 102s are disposed alongside the previously placed first decking board 102 and are attached using connecting members 104 in a similar fashion. At 216, at the end of the decking frame 116 opposite to where the first decking board 102 was disposed, a last decking board 102 is disposed and secured to decking frame 116 via a second end connecting member 106.

An example is provided that makes multiple references to numerous elements found in decking system 100 from FIG. 1. First, a decking frame 116 is created. Draining spacers 126 are inserted between the decking frame 116 and the building structure. A first decking board 102 is disposed flush against the top surface of the decking frame 116 along one edge of the decking frame 116. End connecting members 106 are inserted into a first slot opening 112 of the first decking board 102 and secured to the decking frame 116, thus securing one end of the first decking board 102 to the decking frame 116. Optionally if end connecting members 106 do not span the length of the first decking board 102, more end connecting members 106 are attached to the first decking board 102.

A fastening member 104 is inserted into a second slot opening 112 of first decking board 102 and secured to the decking frame 116, thus securing the first decking board 102 to the decking frame 116. Optionally if end connecting members 106 do not span the length of the second decking board 102, then more end connecting members 106 are attached to the first decking board 102. Gasket 110 is attached to the shorter component 122 of fastening member 104. If more than one fastening member 104 is needed, then the gasket 110 can span the entire length of the multiple connecting members 104. Further decking boards 102 are disposed alongside the previously placed decking board 102 and are attached using connecting members 104. Gaskets 110 are attached to the shorter component 122 of connecting members 104 to create a waterproof seal in between each decking board 102. At the end of the decking frame 116 opposite to where the first decking board 102 was disposed, a last decking board 102 is secured to decking frame 116 via a second end fastening member 106.

In an example, decking system 100 may be installed on top of an already existing deck. Connecting members 104 and end connecting members 106 may secure decking boards 102 to decking boards of the existing deck instead of decking frame 116.

FIG. 3 illustrates the manner in which connecting members 104 may be used to fasten decking boards 102 to joist 114. For example, screws 180 may be inserted on an angle through connecting member 104 to joist 114. By keeping the head of the screws 180 on the lower portion 124 of connecting member 104 and installing gasket 122, the integrity of the water seal being formed by the decking boards, connecting members 104 and gaskets 122 may be maintained.

FIG. 4 shows another view of the decking system 100 in which the connecting member 104 is shown as installed.

While the decking system 100 has been described in connection with the various examples of the various figures, it is to be understood that other similar examples can be used or modifications and additions can be made to the described example for performing the same function of preventing or reducing the probability of theft of rims and tires without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the decking system 100 should not be limited to any single example, but rather should be construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims. 

What is claimed:
 1. A system, comprising: at least two decking boards disposed atop a decking frame, at least one connecting member disposed between the at least two decking boards, wherein the at least one connecting member: secures to the decking frame, attaches to the at least two decking boards, and secures the at least two decking boards to the decking frame; and a gasket attached to the at least one fastening member and disposed between the at least two decking boards. 